Top Lifestyle News

Oct 7, 2026 - Lifestyle

No longer messy and cumbersome, a new generation of powders blurs, sets and mattifies without the faffI can’t remember the last time I wrote about loose powder because, honestly, there’s been little point. Pressed compact powders have become so sophisticated in formulation, so finely milled in production, that most of us rely on those to keep shiny bits matte and makeup looking fresh past lunchtime. Loose powders – messy, cumbersome and barely improved in decades – seemed trapped in the past. But there have always been times when one absolutely does benefit from a proper dusting.A fine coating of loose powder locks down foundation and concealer like nothing else can – no bridal or TV makeup artist, dancer or performer would be without it. Now, seemingly all at once, a flurry of new generation powders are offering way more for your trouble. Continue reading...

Oct 6, 2026 - Lifestyle

We are all going to die, and so is everyone we know. So how can you not be terrified?For most people, death is not a standard conversation topic. Once, at lunch, a friend began talking about her mother’s death several years earlier. Her voice caught occasionally, but she spoke about it plainly – like a simple fact of life. As we talked, I noticed another friend was shifting uncomfortably in his seat; he didn’t say much.Afterwards, I asked him what was wrong. “I really don’t like talking about death,” he said, his hands twitching anxiously. “I don’t even like thinking about it. It freaks me out.” Continue reading...

Oct 3, 2026 - Lifestyle

The 20 best residential gardens have been revealed in the first-ever Landscape Australia awards shortlist. Jury chair Emily Wong said each project was a response to urgent issues such as the climate crisis, fire and flood resilience, and the loss of biodiversity. They saw gardens as ‘part of a larger living commons that supports different ecologies and also … the future of Australian cities’. Wong also noted that private gardens take up a large quantity of space in Australian cities. ‘So really, these gardens are about seeing the design as a contribution to shared infrastructure’ Continue reading...

Oct 2, 2026 - Lifestyle

A great blender is a kitchen workhouse – I tested more than a dozen options including the Vitamix and Breville for budget, size, mulch factor, speed and whether they had plastic or glass jarsIn the UK? Check out Filter UK’s top-rated blenders hereThere are few breakfasts that feel as healthy and refreshing as the ever-mutable smoothie. You can make them virtuous, with lots of greens and nut milk, or luscious, with full-fat dairy and cocoa powder – but in order to make a good one, you need a really good blender.And while smoothies are the classic use for a blender, these appliances can do so much more; a truly great blender is a kitchen workhorse that can make your morning smoothie, your afternoon dip, your evening soup and even a frozen drink if you’re feeling frisky.Best overall: Breville Fresh & FuriousThe very best blender (luxury): Vitamix 5200 Continue reading...

Oct 2, 2026 - Lifestyle

Experts say that if you’re eating any berry – strawberries, blackberries, currants, raspberries, blueberries – you are benefitingSprinkled on top of yoghurt, blended into smoothies or baked into crumbles, berries are among Americans’ favorite fruits.Luckily, berries are as healthy as they are delicious and versatile: low in calories, full of vitamins and antioxidants, and a good source of fiber. Research shows that, depending on the type, berries support cardiovascular health, may boost gut health and fight inflammation and show promise as part of a “healthy dietary strategy for diabetes prevention and management”, to quote researchers. Meta-analyses also link compounds in berries with improved cognitive health. Continue reading...